US News & World Report recently ranked Gonzaga in the top 12% of best colleges for veterans among all nationally ranked institutions.
Overview
Gonzaga University is proud to offer current, transitioning, and veteran military members a quality private education and supportive campus services. GU understands that transitioning from the military to college life can be a challenge so we have outlined actionable items to ensure your success.
Check your admission eligibility
Military members and veterans are, in most cases, considered transfer applicants at Gonzaga, as many will have completed some form of academic coursework following high school graduation.
Primary emphasis for admission as a transfer applicant is placed on a strong record of academics at the college level. Gonzaga’s mission is, in part, to model and expect academic excellence, hence our desire to see that you are academically prepared for rigorous coursework. If you have not completed a sufficient amount of academic credit or your grades do not reflect successful completion of classes, additional coursework may be recommended prior to admission. In most cases, the community colleges are an excellent and relatively inexpensive approach – and Gonzaga has a transfer admission counselor that can assist you with selecting transferrable courses from any institution.
Applicants interested in admission as an Engineering major have specific criteria that may also require completion of courses prior to admission. Please review Gonzaga’s Transfer Admission Requirements before applying.
Apply for admission
Once you are prepared to apply, simply complete and submit Gonzaga's online Transfer Application.
Additional requirements include the following items:
- College Report
- Teacher Recommendation
- Official college transcripts from all institutions attended, regardless of whether or not credit was received. Joint-Service Transcripts and Community College of the Air Force transcripts also recommended.
Know what kind of benefits you are eligible for
Gonzaga accepts a variety of educational benefits from the VA. At any time, students may reach out to Gonzaga’s certifying official, Michael Grabowski, for further information. Kelly Wentz, in Gonzaga’s Financial Aid office, is also a good resource for discussing how your benefits may impact tuition at GU.
100% eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, plus Yellow Ribbon benefits, generally cover cost of tuition at Gonzaga University – check out the VA’s GI Bill Comparison Tool to see for yourself!
Additional scholarships earned may extend funds beyond the cost of tuition and could result in refunds for personal use. Explore Gonzaga’s transfer scholarship opportunities and keep an eye out for outside scholarships that you might qualify for. Filing an annual Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), may also be an additional resource of funding.
Know how your college and military credits will transfer
Gonzaga may award up to 25 general elective credits for military education however, the coursework is generally ungraded - or technical/vocational in nature - so it is not included in the academics evaluated for admission purposes. Receiving credit for military training requires submission of an official Joint Services Transcript or Community College of the Air Force transcript.
College credit earned at a regionally accredited institution is generally accepted in transfer and will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis for credit equivalency at Gonzaga University. To review courses that transferred from you previous institutions, please refer to our Transfer Credit Database. If you would like a pre-evaluation of your college credit, please contact Gonzaga’s transfer admission counselor, Lindsey Spencer.
What to do following enrollment
GU can assist you in making a successful transition from the military to college, and help you prepare for a career following graduation. Beyond providing a quality education, we also offer many on-campus resources to help you make that transition smoothly.
All of Gonzaga’s new students work with an academic advisor upon enrollment. This advisor will take care of your class registration for the first semester at GU. This alleviates any stress of selecting classes on your own and ensures you are enrolled in appropriate coursework your first semester here. About half way through your first semester, you will be reassigned an academic advisor in your discipline and will meet with this advisor at every mid-term.
One of our greatest resources on campus is our Transfer, Veteran, and Returning Adult Student (TVRAS) office. The staff in the TVRAS office often act as advocates for military and veteran students on campus. Colleen Vandenboom and her team work with student-veterans to ensure connection with any services that might meet your unique needs. Such resources might include academic advising, tutoring, counseling, and disability accommodations, just to name a few.
Gonzaga’s Career and Professional Development office is also accessible to supply you with the tools needed to prepare for internships and employment following graduation. Find an alumni mentor in your future field, practice interview techniques, and take advantage of career and recruiting events both on and off campus.